Florida Senate - 2026                             CS for SB 1414
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Health Policy; and Senator Polsky
       
       
       
       
       
       588-02771-26                                          20261414c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to education on congenital
    3         cytomegalovirus; creating s. 383.142, F.S.; requiring
    4         the Department of Health, in consultation with medical
    5         experts identified by the department, to develop
    6         educational materials on congenital cytomegalovirus
    7         for distribution to expectant and new parents or
    8         caregivers; providing requirements for such
    9         educational materials; requiring certain hospitals,
   10         birth centers, and obstetrics and gynecology physician
   11         practices to provide the educational materials to such
   12         parents and caregivers; requiring the department to
   13         provide the educational materials to child care
   14         facilities and other relevant entities; providing an
   15         effective date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Section 383.142, Florida Statutes, is created to
   20  read:
   21         383.142 Education on congenital cytomegalovirus.—The
   22  Department of Health, in consultation with medical experts
   23  identified by the department, shall develop educational
   24  materials on congenital cytomegalovirus to be distributed to
   25  expectant and new parents or caregivers as part of any
   26  maternity, prenatal, or newborn services or education provided
   27  by hospitals, birth centers, or obstetrics and gynecology
   28  physician practices in this state.
   29         (1) The educational materials must include, but need not be
   30  limited to, an explanation of all of the following:
   31         (a) The causes, symptoms, and effects of cytomegalovirus
   32  infection and the ways it can be prevented. The materials must
   33  emphasize the fact that the virus can spread from person to
   34  person without detection and can be particularly dangerous if
   35  transmitted from a pregnant woman to her child as congenital
   36  cytomegalovirus.
   37         (b) The manner in which congenital cytomegalovirus, if
   38  contracted, can lead to neurological issues, such as seizures,
   39  cerebral palsy, and developmental delays; sensory loss, such as
   40  hearing and vision loss; physical problems, such as low birth
   41  weight, jaundice, and enlarged liver and spleen; and, in severe
   42  cases, pregnancy loss. The materials must emphasize the
   43  importance of early testing for congenital cytomegalovirus in
   44  newborns and infants to preserve their health and prevent
   45  lifelong health complications.
   46         (c) The screening requirements of s. 383.145.
   47         (2) Each hospital, birth center, and obstetrics and
   48  gynecology physician practice in this state providing maternity,
   49  prenatal, or newborn services or education shall provide the
   50  educational materials developed by the department under this
   51  section to expectant or new parents or caregivers receiving such
   52  services or education. The department shall provide the
   53  educational materials to child care facilities and any other
   54  entity deemed relevant by the department.
   55         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.